Created by John DePasquale for classroom use
PRIMARY'SOURCE'ANALYSIS'
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Title'of'Source:''_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________''''
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Type'of'Primary'Source:'______________________________________________________________________________________________________________'
' ' OBSERVE'
EXPLAIN'
INFER
WONDER'
DESCRIPTION'OF'SOURCE:'
What%do%you%observe?%Consider%the%images,%people,%
objects,%activities,%actions,%words,%phrases,%facts,%
and%numbers.%
MEANING:'
What%is%the%meaning%of%the%objects,%words,%symbols,%
etc.?%
MESSAGE/ARGUMENT:
What sentiment (attitude or feeling) do you think
the author is trying to convey through the
source? What, based on the source, can you infer
about the historical event or time period?
QUESTIONS:'
What%about%the%source%makes%you%curious?%What%
questions%still%remain?%What%additional%
information%would%you%need%to%know%in%order%to%
deepen%your%understanding%of%the%ideas%expressed%
in%the%source?%
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CONTENT'&'CONTEXT'
Who'is'the'author'of'the'primary'source?'What'do'you'know'about'the'author'that'may'shape'his/her'perspective?'
Who'is'the'intended'audience'of'the'primary'source?"
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Where'and'when'was'the'primary'source'published'or'created?'
Describe'the'historical'context.'What'was'happening'during'this'event'or'time'period?'
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